World Theater (Omaha, Nebraska)

World Theater
Omaha Theater
Map
Address1506 Douglas Street
Omaha, Nebraska
United States
Coordinates41°15′32″N 95°56′10″W / 41.2590°N 95.9362°W / 41.2590; -95.9362
OwnerWorld Realty Co.
TypeVaudeville, Movie theater
Capacity2,100
Current useRazed 1980
Construction
OpenedApril 15, 1922
ClosedFebruary 26, 1978
Years active1922–1978
ArchitectC. Howard Crane, Fisher & Lawrie

The World Theater was a vaudeville and movie theater at 1506 Douglas Street in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.[1] Its name was changed to the Omaha Theater in February 1935 when it was sold to new management.[1] It closed on February 26, 1978, and was razed in 1980 to allow for the construction of a parking garage.[1]

History

The 2,500 seat World Theater was designed by architect C. Howard Crane for the World Realty Company.[1] Crane, a native of Detroit, was one of the foremost theatrical architects in the United States.[1] Harry Lawrie, of the Omaha architectural firm of Fisher & Lawrie, oversaw the project from Omaha.[1] The James Black Masonry and Construction Company served as the general contractors.[1] Construction took ten months.[1]

The theater was constructed of brick on a steel frame.[1] The exterior was faced in glazed terra cotta all around.[1] Three grand arched windows with iron mullions separated by four sets of Corinthian columns dominated the front of the theater.[2] Railings with balustrade sills completed the windows' ornamentation.[2] The Corinthian columns supported an enriched frieze and cornice decorated with dentils and modillions.[2] A parapet band with sculptured inserts and the inscribed words, World Theatre, was centered at the top of the building.[2]

The interior included a large chandelier with a thousand cut-glass crystals hanging from the large center dome of gold and silver inlay.[3] Two smaller chandeliers hung from two lesser domes.[3] In the lobby hung a chandelier of prismatic glass in the shape of a globe, surrounded by an orbit of comets, stars and crescents.[3] Torchers of cathedral glass set on Corinthian shafts and marble bases are on the mezzanine foyer, and a ceiling of Chinese silk and Chinese coins decorated the women's lounge.[3] The stage curtain was made of velvet with gold fringe and large tassels sewn by the Drapery Department of the J. L. Brandeis and Sons Store.[4] The velvet carpets, also provided by the J. L. Brandeis Store, were in harmonizing shades of blue and gold.[4] Completing the Brandeis decorations were davenports and overstuffed chairs in the promenade lounge and other smaller lounges.[4]

A $45,000 pipe organ manufactured by Hope-Jones Wurlitzer was installed by the theater's opening.[5] The grand opening of the World Theater was on Saturday, April 15, 1922.[6] A crowd of over 10,000 attended the opening with shows at 2:00 pm, 4:20 pm, 6:45 pm and 9:15 pm.[7] Prices for the grand opening were 50 cents for unreserved seats, and 75 cents with a reservation.[6]

In February 1935 the World Theater was sold and the new management renamed it the Omaha Theater.[1] It closed on February 26, 1978. When plans for redevelopment of the theater failed, the building was razed in 1980 and a parking garage built at the location.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jeffrey S. Spencer [researcher & writer], Kristine Gerber [project director] (2003). Building for the ages : Omaha's architectural landmarks (1st ed.). Omaha, Neb.: Omaha Books. p. 41. ISBN 0-9745410-1-X.
  2. ^ a b c d "Omaha Theater". Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d "Beautiful Chandelier, World Theater". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, Omaha, Douglas County, NE, USA. April 9, 1922. p. 43.
  4. ^ a b c "Opening of the New World Theater". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, Omaha, Douglas County, NE, USA. April 23, 1922. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Music". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, Omaha, Douglas County, NE, USA. April 30, 1947. p. 4.
  6. ^ a b "Douglas Street Was Crowded Yesterday". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, Omaha, Douglas County, NE, USA. April 16, 1922. p. 42.
  7. ^ "World". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, Omaha, Douglas County, NE, USA. April 14, 1922. p. 14.